A Syracuse University journalism professor, Philip Ward Burton, had a controversial idea to end this overcrowding: reducing the number of women allowed to go to college. Syracuse opposed his recommendation.

In the Post-Standard's Feb. 9, 1958, Sunday magazine "This Week," Burton wrote: "Ladies, from this corner it looks very doubtful that in 10 years (or less) there will be room for both you and all of the men who want to college. And it's more vital that men should have a college education. That's why many of you are going to have to step aside."

He admitted he had no "woman-hating complex" behind this, adding he "admired women students for their industry, enthusiasm and ability ... and I would be the last to deny that women hold their own in classroom situations."

But, he believed, men "needed college degrees more," and thought women went to college for "less sensible" reasons.

He urged female students to attend two-year schools and women's colleges.

Post-Standard editors called his ideas "a step backward, not forward, for American higher education," and printed the article to highlight the overcrowding crisis, hoping that action would be taken so that "some such extreme plan as Professor Burton's" would not be "forced upon us."

Editors anticipated the uproar which followed the article's publication. They held dozens of interviews with people from all walks of life - from Syracuse Mayor Anthony Henninger to high school students - all from around the area.

Published from between Feb. 10-12, 1958, the interviews gave readers an idea of Central New Yorker's thoughts on gender roles in the years between World War II and the start of the feminist movement of the 1960s.

While most of the comments were against Professor Burton, some were not.

The first interview belonged to Syracuse mayor Anthony Henninger, who might have been the most outspoken critic of Burton:

"Deprive women of a college education? Never! That is the most senseless thing I've heard yet. Women are the balance wheel that keeps the world moving properly on an even keel."

Superintendent of Syracuse schools, Dr. Paul Miller, agreed: "We've got to get the most mileage out of our manpower, women included. Remember that Americans make up only a small portion of the earth's population, but account for a great amount of its progress - thanks in part to women."

Teacher Helen Maney, of Geneva, believed that educated women would be essential in the future. She said, "Professionally trained women are being sought in every field of activity today and are essential to the maintenance of our leadership role."

In the wake of World War II and the Korean War, many believed women they should be educated should their husbands be called away to serve in the military.

Katherine Del Balso, of South Salina Street, who wrote, "Women must have an education for if they don't marry, or if they do marry, and something happens which puts them out on their own, they're stuck."

Burton did have some supporters.

A Fulton attorney said he would "hate to see any of my three sons deprived of a college education just because some female wanted to go husband-hunting in a college."

Seneca Falls teacher, Frank Vogel, agreed with Burton's idea that "in most cases our young women make much less of their higher education than do young men."

George Kaplan, an Oneida machinist, bluntly said, "Girls belong in their home. Men belong in industry."

Surprisingly, several women agreed with Burton.

Mrs. John Amabel, of Massena, did not think women should be refused, but thought "men should get first choice."

Mrs. James Hurd, who worked as a secretary, believed "it is much more important for the men to have a college degree," and thought "it was more important to invest in the future breadwinner of a family than a probable beauty queen."

Young people were universally pro-education for all.

James Kelly, 17, of Hamden Ave., said, "Its been proven time and again that women have as much brains as men ... and have a place in science, education and even law."

Bonnie Bitzer, a Rome Free Academy sophomore, said "it was only fair" that both genders had an equal chance at an education.

Maria Zaharis, 15, of Syracuse, and Judith Toscano, 15, believed that Burton's idea would prevent them from fulfilling their dreams of careers in teaching and social work, respectively.

Philip Ward Burton's idea, of course, never came to be. He told the Post-Standard he was "positively fearful" about the public's response.